Adult vocational qualification
Options, retraining opportunities and processes
The Swiss education system offers various opportunities for obtaining a federally recognised vocational qualification. Basic vocational education and training was originally conceived as an educational offer for young people. It features clearly structured training courses, full-time training, youth protection provisions as well as numerous support services and consultation services that are tailored to a young target group.
However, adults can also obtain a vocational education and training qualification (Federal VET Certificate or Federal VET Diploma with/without a Federal Vocational Baccalaureate) in a variety of ways. The Swiss Federal Act on Vocational Education and Training forms the basis for ensuring that skills already acquired can be recognised appropriately and that training courses can be shortened accordingly. In addition, the legal framework enables the development of further tailor-made educational offerings for adults.
Basic vocational education and training always consists of three elements: education, admission to a qualification procedure and the qualification procedure. In order to complete a qualification procedure, candidates need to acquire the appropriate authorisation. The specific admission criteria are set out in the respective vocational education and training ordinance. Participation in a training course organised by a company or school generally meets the requirements for admission. However, candidates can also apply for admission outside of a regulated education programme by providing evidence of the required professional experience and demonstrating that they are able to meet the requirements of the respective qualification procedure.
The sections below describe various ways in which adults can obtain a vocational education and training qualification (Federal VET Certificate or Federal VET Diploma with/without a Federal Vocational Baccalaureate).
Many paths lead to the same goal
Forms of recognition of prior learning
Admission to training
Recognition of prior learning in training
Admission to the qualification procedure
Recognition in a qualification procedure
Guidelines: recognition of prior learning
The SERI guidelines entitled “Recognition of prior learning in Vocational Education and Training” describe the process for recognising prior learning and make recommendations to the cantons and the sponsoring bodies.
The guidelines and further information on recognition of prior learning can be found on the SERI website .
Recognition of foreign qualifications
In Switzerland, adults who have obtained an educational qualification abroad comparable to basic vocational education and training have the option of applying to SERI for recognition (equivalence) or confirmation of the level of the foreign qualification.
The recognition process differs depending on whether the occupation is regulated in Switzerland or not. An occupation is considered to be regulated if carrying out the professional activity in Switzerland is tied to the possession of certain professional qualifications by law or administrative provisions.
More detailed information is available on the SERI website at www.sbfi.admin.ch/diploma .
Responsibilities
Cantons and professional organisations are responsible for setting up, providing information on and admission to these routes.
The portal berufsberatung.ch offers an overview of the various options for people who want to achieve a vocational qualification at a later stage in life.
